Bottle breaking device



Feb. 18, 1941. E. a. GRAZE'. Erm.

BOTTLE BREAKING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jaimie)" 02',

R O T T A Feb. 18, 1941. GRAZE ETAL 2,232,382

BOTTLE BREAKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2; 1938 INVENTORS Ergezzelf Graze (w Johndwesm,

ATTOR Patented F eb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE BREAKING DEVICE Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,317

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle breaking devices and more particularly to manually operable bottle breakers adapted to rupture the sealing groove of the bottle to prevent the unauthorized 5 reuse thereof.

Federal statutes, regulating the sale and distribution of alcoholic liquors, now provide that each bottle containing certain designated alcoholic liquors must be broken to render the same unfit for reuse after the contents have been emptied therefrom. These statutes have been enacted to protect the public against unauthorized persons obtaining emptied bottles and refilling the same with spurious liquors and selling such refilled bottles as the original products to the unsuspecting public.

This practice deprived both the State and Federal governments of legitimate sources of revenue, as well as endangering the health of the public. This practice was a menace to the health of the public, as many times harmful, as well as poisonous, spirits were used by these unauthorized persons in refilling the bottles which were bought by the public, who were led to believe that the liquor contained in the bottles was actually that as represented by the label or other indicia on the same.

Dispensers of the designated liquors, in fulfilling the requirements of the statutes, were forced to break the emptied bottles by devious means, many of which were both difficult and dangerous due to the hazards of flying glass during the breaking operation, as well as the subsequent handling of the broken parts of the bottle in dis-' posing of the same.

To obviate the hazard attending the compliance with the statutes, bottle breaking devices have been heretofore proposed which in most instances consisted of elaborate devices for frac- 40 turing the entire bottle. These prior devices did not entirely remove the hazards, for, in disposing of the'broken parts, dispensers and employees thereof were still required to handle the broken parts of the bottle and were frequently injured in doing so.

In other instances, devices have been proposed which, although they fractured but a small part of the bottle, were of such design that many times a user would be injured by flying bits of glass 50. splintered from the bottle during the breaking operation. These prior devices in most instances were designed to crush a restricted portion of the bottle, particularly the bottle neck, and required the exertion of considerable force to crush the portion of the bottle acted upon.

The present invention obviates the serious difl'iculties in these prior devices in that but a small zone concentrated within the neck and sealing rim of the bottle is ruptured, which effectively prevents the unauthorized use of the bottle. The 5 body of the bottle, as the sealing rim only has been ruptured, may be handled without any danger of injury to the person of the user from the broken parts thereof.

The device of the present invention is so con- 10 structed that a bottle may be quickly and easily fractured with but a slight exertion of force. The invention consists in the broader aspects thereof of a member adapted to be received within the bore of the neck of the bottle to be broken, l5 and which is adapted to rupture the sealing rim of the bottle upon slight relative movement therebetween. The device, according to the present invention, provides a minimum of operating members so that the same may be economically 20 manufactured in mass production.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, means have been provided for protecting the user against any flying particles of glass which might be splintered from the bottle during the breaking 25 operation. This means, in addition to shielding the user against flying particles of glass, also collects any fragments of glass which 'may be splintered during the breaking operation, so that the particles may be conveniently disposed of, 30 preventing any injury to a user which might come about through the subsequent handling of the broken parts of the bottle.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter I appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, showing a bottle about to be broken.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the casing taken 40 on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the guide finger shown in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form'of the invention.

Fig. 4, which is a view similar to Fig. 3, shows another modified, form of the invention.

Fig. 5, which is also a side elevational View, shows still another modified formof the invention.

Fig. 6 shows an even further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of the splintering plug of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing a still further modified form of the splintering plug of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of the plug shown in Fig. 8.

The preferred form of the invention, referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, comprises a bottle fracturing member ID, housed by a suitable container ll, adapted to receive the neck of the bottle 13 to be broken and which prevents fragments of glass from scattering during the fracturing operation.

The member Ill, which may be of any suitable material such as cast metal, comprises a base 12 and a splintering plug I3 adapted to be received within the open end of the bottle and to engage the rim edge thereof. The splintering plug which forms the bottle fracturing means according to the present invention, may be of any desired shape or configuration but, preferably, should be substantially pyramidal so that the rim engaging surfaces thereof will apply an outward breaking force against the bottle neck adjacent the open end thereof upon relative movement of the plug l3 and bottle B towards one another.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the plug I3 is shown as a pyramid. In this form of the splintering plug, knife edges M are provided, which, as will be clearly understood, are formed by the juncture of the triangular faces of the pyramid. The knife edges l4 facilitate the fracturing of the bottle neck as they concentrate the breaking force at spaced intervals around the internal wall of the rim and apply the force to the glass through the medium of sharp cutting edges.

To preclude the possibility of injury to a users hands by contacting the sharp vertex of the plug IS, the latter, preferably as shown herein, is truncated.

The base I2 is adapted to be rigidly secured by any suitable fastening means I5, such as screws, to the bottom wall It of the container H. The container, which may be composed of any desired material, comprises a box-like housing in--' cluding the bottom wall It, a plurality of enclosing side walls I! and a top wall is. The top Wall I3 is provided with a suitable centrally located aperture topermit the entry of a bottle neck within the container H. The aperture l9 may be of any desired shape and size, but preferably, is substantially circular and of sufiicient diameter to permit the entry of the largest-sized bottles in use.

To assist a user so that the bore of the bottle neck may be easily and quickly presented to the plug I3, a plurality of guide fingers 2e are secured to the underneath side of the-top wall i8. These guide fingers may be of any desired shape and,-as shown by Fig. 2, comprise a plurality of substantially triangular shaped resilient fingers having the base thereof secured by suitable fasteners to the underneath side of the top wall it adjacent the aperture l9 and substantially cover the same. Each of the fingers 20 are so positioned that the apex thereof lies closely adjacent the upper end of the plug l3.

These fingers are adapted to engage and guide the bottle neck when the same is inserted through the aperture) so as to correctly position the same over the vertex of the plug it. As will now be clearly understood with the bottle in the position as shown in Fig. l, movement of the bottle in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1 will cause the splintering plug [3 to be forcibly wedged within the bore of the bottle neck and a slight impact, which can be easily given to the bottle, will cause the plug l3, due to the camming action between the rim engaging surfaces thereof and the rim, to spread or expand the same, setting up sufiicient internal stresses within the glass walls of the bottle neck to fracture the sealing rim thereof.

In the preferred manner of use of the present invention, a user grasps the bottom edge of the bottle and inserts the bottle neck through the aperture l9, which is guided by means of the fingers 2%) so that the bore thereof is received by the splintering plugs it. The user may then, by exerting a small impact force against the bottle, cause the plug to splinter the sealing rim of the bottle sufficiently to rupture the same. The user, still grasping the bottle, may now withdraw the same from-the container H and dispose of it without any danger of injury to his person which might be caused by handling broken parts of the bottle. Fragments of glass which might be splintered from'the bottle during the breaking operation will be prevented from scattering and will be collected and held by the container H.

The container Ii, including the guide fingers 2Q,

will effectively prevent any particles of glass from coming into contact with the person of the user so that the latter is protected against injury.

One of the enclosing side walls ll, preferably, is hinged, as shown at 2|, so that the wall I! may be swung back to permit the removal of broken glass from the container l l which will accumulate after continued use of the device.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the'bottle is positioned on a flat surface in its normal upright position and the splintering plug Ella is inserted into the bore of the neck thereof. The base l2a carries an upstanding llllpact receiving head 22 which is secured to the base Ha by any suitable means.

The breaking of the bottle in this form of the invention, as will now be clearly understood, is effected by striking the head 22, as with the fist, or with any suitable device, to forcibly wedge the splintering plug l3a into the open end of the bottle fracturing the rim thereof. The bottle may then be disposed of without danger of injury to the user of the device, as the body of the bottle, which is normally grasped, has not been fractured.

In the form of the invention as shown by Fig. 4, the breaking member is secured to the underneath side of a lever 23 pivoted to a suitable standard 24 carried by a base 25. The base 25, which may be of any suitable construction, is adapted to support the standard 24 which is secured thereto by any conventional fastening means. The upper end of the standard is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures 26 adapted to receive a cotter pin 21, or the like, carried by a sleeve 28. An end of the lever 23 is pivotally secured to the sleeve 28 as at 29, andterminates at the opposite end in an enlarged hand grip 30 to facilitate the manual operation of the lever 23. The splintering plug [3b, similar to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention, has the base l2?) thereof permanently secured to the underneath sideof the lever 23 intermediate the ends thereof.

The bottle to be broken is positioned as shown in Fig. 4, with the splintering plug l3b engaging the rim of the open end thereof. The hand grip 30 of the lever 23 is now grasped by the user and forced downward, causing the plug tobe forced into the bore of the neck which effects breaking strains in the bottle neck and ruptures the same.

As will be understood, the spaced apertures 26 of the standard 24 permits the sleeve 28 to be adjustably secured thereto relative to the base 25 so that bottles of varying heights may be accommodated by this form of the device.

A shield, not shown, may be secured to the base I212 or lever 23 to prevent fragments of glass from flying andendangering the user, but can generally be dispensed, with as the broken bits of glass are forced downward due to the fact that the breaking force exerted against the neck of the bottle is substantially downward.

It will be understood that the bottle, after the sealing rim only has been fractured, may be safely disposed of as explained hereinbefore. In the illustrated in Fig. 5, the

form of the invention breaking member I is secured to a movable platform 32 carried by a pair of standards 33 supported on a base 34. The base 34, which may be of any desired shape, preferably, is of sufficient mass to form a firm support for the standards 33, platform 32, and breaking member lllc carried thereby. The standards 33, permanently secured at their lower ends to the base 34, are each provided intermediate the ends thereof with a collar 35. The platform 32 is provided adjacent the opposite sides thereof with a pair of hollow bosses 36 adapted to receive the upper extremities of the pair of standards 33 which extend therethrough. Coil springs 3'! surrounding each standard 33 and extending between the collars 35 and bosses 36, resist downward movement of the platform and tend to hold the platform in the position shown.

The breaking member lflc, as shown in this form of the invention, comprises a base I20 and a splintering plug l3c. An impact receiving head 38 is secured to the base I 20 by any suitable means and preferably is secured thereto by providing the head 38 with a downwardly extending projection (not shown) adapted to be threaded into an internally threaded socket formed in the base Ho. The breaking member I0c and head 38 are mounted on the platform 32 by passing the projection of the head 38 through a suitable aperture provided in the platform 32 and threading the projection into the socket of the base l2c to clamp the platform therebetween.

The bottle to be broken, in this form of the invention, is placed on the supporting base 34 directly beneath the plug l3c whereupon the platform 32 may be depressed until the plug I30 engages the rim of the open end of the bottle.

With the plug [3c thus positioned, the head 38 may be struck with sufiicient impact to forcibly wedge the plug |3c within the bore of the neck of the bottle adequate to fracture the same. The platform 32, as will be understood, is then returned to its normal position as shown in Fig. 5 under the action of the coiled springs 31.

To permit bottles of various sizes to be broken in this form of the invention, the collars 35 are adjustably secured to the standards 33 by small set screws 39 so that the collars may be conveniently raised or lowered as the need requires.

A simplified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the base I 2d of the breaking member ltd is secured to a convenient support such as a wall 45 or the like so that the plug [311 extends outwardly therefrom. In this form of the invention, the bore of the neck of a bottle to be broken is presented to the plug and, by an adequate force exerted longitudinally of the bottle in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 6, the plug ,l3d is caused to be forcibly wedged within the open end of-the'bottle suificiently to fracture the neck of the same.

There is shown in Fig. 7 a modified form of the breaking member per se. The member, as shown byFig. '7, comprises a base I 2e having a series of spaced mounting apertures 42 formed therein and wherein the splintering plug 'l3e comprises a truncated three-sided pyramid. In this form of the plug, three knife edges 43 are provided which, 'as will be understood, are formed by the juncture of the three triangular faces of the plug.

Another modified form of the breaking member is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the plug I3,f comprises a truncated cone carried by a base [2] provided with spaced mounting apertures 44. In this form of the splintering plug, the tapering walls thereof may be roughened or formed with suitable knife edges, if desired, to facilitate the fracturing action thereof when the plug is forcibly wedged within the bore of the neck of the bottle to be broken.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of the splintering plug shown in Fig. 8. In this form of the invention, the plugl3g is substantially conical in form and is provided with a spiral knife edge 45 extending about the tapered surface thereof. The usual base l2g is provided with spaced mounting apertures 46.

A bottle is broken in a somewhat different manner in this form of the invention. After the plug I3g is received within the bore of the neck of the bottle, a rotative movement is imparted to the bottle which, due to the action of the spiral knife edge of the plug frictionally engaging the internal wall of the bottle neck, causes the neck of the bottle to be drawn down over the plug which ruptures the sealing rim thereof.

This form of the plug is particularly well adapted. for use in connection with the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, although not limited in application to those embodiments as illustrated.

Although but four forms of the splintering plug have been illustrated, the invention contemplates, in the broader aspects thereof, any pyramidal, conical or similar shaped plug which, when forced within the open end of the bottle, will set up internal stresses in the glass of the neck and sealing rim sufiicien't to rupture the same.

Variations and. modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. In a bottle breaking device, a casing having a bottle neck receiving aperture in one wall thereof; a rigid stationary wedge-shaped member, for receiving the neck of a bottle to be broken, disposed on the opposite wall of said casing; and guide means carried by the first-named wall adapted to engage the neck of the bottle when inserted through said aperture for guiding said neck to said wedge-shaped member, said member adapted to apply a substantially radial breaking force against the bottle neck at the sealing rim thereof to fracture the same upon application of force to the bottle.

2. In a bottle breaking device, a casing having a bottle neck receiving aperture in one wall thereof, a wedge-shaped block projecting from the op posite wall toward said aperture; and guide means posite wail of said casing and projecting toward said aperture; and guide fingers carried by the first-namedwail for guiding the neck of the bottle to be broken to the wedge-shaped member when the neck is inserted through said aperture, continued movement of the bottle causing the sealing rim of the same to engage and encircle the block arid beshattered when force is applied against the base of the bottle.

EUGENE E. GRAZE.

JOHN SERESIN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,232,582. February 1 19m.

EUGENE E. GRAZE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page )4, first column, line 2, claim 2, for the word "other" read -outer-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 8th day of April, A. D. 19in.

Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

(Seal) 

